Temperature responsive pyrophoric device



Feb. 22, 1966 A, E, HEMBREE 3,23%283 TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE PYROPHORIG DEVICE Filed OCC. 29, 1963 |146 g3g l #MM5/71735;; 25 pff/4.15 ,f4

United States Patent (Milice 3,236,283 TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE PYRGPHORIC DEVICE Arvie Eugene Hembree, La Crescenta, Calif. (305 Marion Lane, Grants Pass, Oreg.) Filed Oct. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 319,801 7 Claims. (Cl. 158-91) This invention relates generally to a temperature responsive pyrophoric device for permitting the automatic lighting of orchard heaters that are more commonly known as smudge pots. The invention relates more specically to such an automatic lighting or igniting device that permits the initiation of operation of the heaters in response to a fall in ambient atmospheric temperature to a certain pre-determined level.

In the control of temperature in orchard-s of various types such as, for example, those in which citrus fruits are grown as well as such other fruits as peaches, pears and the like, it is common practice to employ various types of devices and apparatus which serve to heat the atmosphere in the immediate vicinity of the orchard, to create a pall of smoke or to produce a situation in which sufiicient air movement is maintained to prevent freezing temperatures from being reached in particularly stagnant areas of an orchard. In many instances, such orchards are located on irregular terrain. In these instances, without normal air movement, low temperatures will first be encountered in the low areas of the orchard. Accordingly when utilizing orchard heaters it is common to light only a portion of such heaters or progressively to light a series of heaters starting usually at the lowest point in the terrain of the orchard. In order to accomplish these routines in the selective lighting of orchard heaters, it is necessary that temperatures be surveyed accurately in different areas of an orchard. When temperatures fall rapidly, it therefore requires a considerable amount of effort on the part of the rancher in lighting the various heaters. Inasmuch as ambient temperature conditions are largely unpredictable, the rancher cannot always maintain sucient help to enable the rapid action that lis necessary under certain temperature conditions.

An additional problem exists with orchard heaters and the lighting thereof in that most of these heaters employ a high viscosity type of oil or other fuel that is relatively diicult to ignite. Heretofore it has been the practice to pour a quantity of flaming kerosense or the like into an opening in the base of the heaters and directly onto the supply of fuel therein to act as a catalyst to soften the fuel, raise the temperature thereof and produce ignition.

The device of the present invention therefor is adapted to overcome the problems set forth hereinbefore in connection with the lighting, maintenance and surveying of orchard heaters. The device accomplishes this means by employing a thermostatically controlled mechanism initially to ignite a relatively highly volatile fluid. In response to the ignition of such uid and only upon successful ignition thereof, this uid is directed into a portion of an orchard heater containing the highly viscose fuel. Upon the disposition of the aming volatile uid, the apparatus, coupled to the orchard heater, is thereafter adapted to be automatically moved to a position to prevent damage thereto by the heat produced by the heater.

It is therefore one important object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically lighting orchard type heaters.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide an automatic orchard heater lighting appa- 3,236,283 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 ratus that is operable in response to a thermostatically produced triggering mechanism.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a novel thermostatic element for use in connection with an automatic orchard heater lighting device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the present automatic lighing device for orchard heaters including means for disposing sensitive elements of the device in a position remote from the location of greatest heat whereby to protect such device.

Other and further important objects of the present i11- vention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following detail specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a typical orchard heater having the apparatus of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the orchard heater igniter of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view 4of Ithe automatic lighting structure;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating construction and operation of a thermostatic element used with and as a portion of the present ignition device; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the operating mechanism and trigger arrangement of the thermostatic mechanism illustrated in FIG. 4.

The device of the present invention can be described generally as a temperature responsive pyroph-oric device and with reference to the drawing is indicated generally at 10. The apparatus 10 is mounted 'by suitable means to a typical orchard heater indicated generally at A. This heater includes a lower por-tion B in which fuel is stored together with a stack C connected thereto and expanding upwardly therefrom. When not in use, the stack C may be suitably closed by means of a cover D which may be temporarily retained in place by means of a chain E, for example, the base or bottom portion B is further provided with a ller opening or neck F which may be closed by means of a cover or door G. The details of the particular orchard heater shown and described herein are given by way of example only inasmuch as the igniter device of the present invention may be used with various types of hea-ters without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

With reference primarily to FIG. 2 the pyrophoric device of this invention includes generally a housing 11 within which is mounted a container structure indicated generally at 12 and an igniting structure indicated generally at 13. The housing 11 further serves to support a thermostatic device indicated generally at 14. The housing 11 is pivotally connected to and mounted on the base structure 13 of the heater as by a suitable arm structure 15, the pivotal connection between the arm 15 and the container 11 being indicated at 16. The container 11 further includes a pouring spout or funnel arrangement 17 that is disposed normally directly above the filler opening F of the heater. A bottom wall 18 of the housing 11 serves to engage the cover G for the ller opening to maintain the cover in an open position against force of a spring loaded hinge 20. As shown, the cover G may also be provided with a pre-set vent opening 21.

The structure 12 includes a container body 22 that is pivotally connected as at 23 to a bracket 24 that is in turn connected to the inside of a wall 2S of the housing 11. It is to be noted that the center of gravity of the container 22 is indicated at 26 and is remote from the. pivot 23. The body 22 is maintained in the upright position as indicated in FIG. 2 by means of a bi-metallic element 27 that is carried by the outer wall of the container body 22 adjacent an upper end thereof. The elenient 27 has a free end which engages a fixed stop 28 formed as a portion of the igniter mechanism 13. The container body 22 is adapted to retain a quantity of a highly volatile fluid indicated at 30, there being an opening 31 in the container through which wick 32 extends and into the fluid 30. The outer end of the wick 32 is disposed as by any suitable means to lie along an edge of the stop member 28 formed as a portion of the igniter structure 13.

It may be seen and it should be understood that when the container body 22 is full or nearly full of the uid 30 the center of gravity of the housing 11 is indicated at 33 and is on the side of the pivotal point 16 to maintain the housing 11 and the mechanism carried thereby in the upright position as illustrated in FIG. 2. For a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described, when the container 22 is empty, the center of gravity of the housing 11 will shift to the point indicated at 34.

The ignition device 13 is intended to cause initial burning of the iluid 30 and does so through use of a flint mechanism indicated at 35 and carrying a flint 36. The mechanism 35 is slidably disposed in a housing 37 and guided in a groove 38. The housing 37 is connected as at 40 to one end of the stop member 28. The flint 36 is spring loaded into cooperation with an irregular striking surface 41 on an upper surface of a stop member 28. The int 36 and the mechanism 35 are spring loaded by means of a compression spring 41 disposed about a shaft 42 and having ends bearing respectively against mechanism 35 and a closed end 43 of the housing 37. The free end of the shaft 42 has a knob 44 thereon there being a pin 45 disposed laterally from the shaft 42 adjacent knob 44. A trigger member 46 that is connected to the thermostatic device 14 has an end portion 47 that is adapted for cooperation with the pin 45 to maintain the ignition structure 13 in a cocked position.

As will be hereinafter more fully described when the member 46, and specifically the member 47 thereon, is removed from engagement with the pin 45, the spring 41 will move the mechanism 35 to cause the flint 36 to move along the surface 41 thus creating sufficient spark to ignite volatile fluid contained in the wick 32. Following the ignition of the fluid on the wick 32, heat will be produced in the area thereof whereby to cause heating of the bimetallic element 27 and relatively slow movement thereof out of contact with the stop member 28. Inasmuch as the center of gravity of the container body 22 is 1ocated at the point 26, the container body 22 will gradually tip as the end of the thermostat 27 clears the stop 28 thus permitting the fluid 30 to be expelled through the opening 31 and over the wick 32, the wick 32 being moved from the side of the stop member 28 upon tipping of and to be thereafter carried by the container body 22. The uid passing over the ignited fluid on the wick 32 will also be ignited and will be disposed in the housing 11 and permitted to run therefrom through the spout 17 and into the base B of the heater to be disposed upon the fuel within the heater; thus, to effect ignition thereof.

, The thermostat apparatus is illustrated primarily in FIG. 4 and serves as a means to move the trigger 46. The thermostat device 14 includes a central shaft 50 which carries a bi-metallic element 51 the free end of which is fixed by attachment to a pin 52. The shaft 50 extends through a boss 53 of an arm 54 that is freely movable with slight friction on the shaft 50. The arm 54 carries an upright extension 55 the upper end of which supports a permanent magnet 56. The arm 54 may be manually moved a slight amount in order to set a thermostat to a desired temperature. The arm 54 fur- -ther car-ries the trigger 46 that is disposed through a resilient grommet 57 andil extends upwardly therefrom. The shaft 50 further pivotally carries an arm 58 that has a pin 60 disposed therefrom and a plate portion 61. The plate portion 61 is disposed. and positioned for coopera- 4 tion with the magnet 56. The shaft 50 still further carries a third arm 62 that is connected thereto and movable and responds to rotation of the shaft 50 by the bi-metallic element 51.

In setting the thermostat 14, the arm 58 is moved until the pin 60 contacts one side of the arm 62. As the temperature drops, the arm 62 acting through the pin 60 will also move the arm 58 until the plate portion 61 is within the influence of the magnetic field of the magnet 56. At this time the plate portion 61 will be rapidly drawn into contact with the magnet 56, the upper end of the trigger 46 being so positioned as to be engaged by a side of the arm 58 whereby to move the trigger 46 to the dotted line position as indicated in FIG. 4. The snap action thus achieved will move the portion 47 of the trigger 46 out of contact with the pin 45 whereby to initiate action of the igniting structure 15 as previously described. More specific details of the snap action mechanism of the thermostat are illustrated in FIG. 5.

It may thus be seen that the thermostatic mechanism 14 may be set to any desired temperature and when such temperature is reached the igniting structure 13 will be actuated to ignite the fluid 30 in the container body 22 and, as previously described, initiate the disposal of the burning fluid 30 from the container body 22 into the housing 11 and thereafter into the fuel containing base B of the heater. These actions are entirely automatic with the heater being lit automatically in response to a predetermined temperature condition.

Inasmuch as certain mechanism in the thermostat 14 is affected by heat, upon emptying of the container body 22 the entire housing 11 and the mechanism carried thereby will tip to the dotted line position as indicated in FIG. 1, whereby to dispose thermostat 14 at a distance substantially remote from the stack C of the heater or, in other words, from the location of greatest heat. At this time, the spring hinge 20 serves to move the cover G into position over the filler F of the heater with the vent 21 serving to admit an appropriate amount of air to insure proper combustion of the fuel within the heater. Combustion of the fuel may be terminated by placing the cover D over the end of stack C.

Having thus described the invention and the present embodiment thereof it is desired to emphasize the fact that many modifications may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An igniter-burner device comprising, in combination:

a housing connected to said burner and having a liquid discharge opening positioned over a filler opening of said burner and formed in a fuel containing compartment thereof;

a container body pivotally mounted in said housing,

said container body being adapted to retain a quantity of an inflammable liquid and having a pouring opening;

wick means extending from said liquid in said container body through said pouring opening;

thermostat means carried by said housing;

pyrophoric means responsive to said thermostat means for igniting said liquid contained in said wick upon achievement of a predetermined ambient atmospheric temperature; and

means for normally maintaining said container body in an upright position in said housing and for releasing said container body to permit pivotal movement thereof to discharge said liquid within said housing in response to heat produced by burning of said liquid on said wick, whereby to dispose burning liquid in said burner and upon fuel contained therein.

2. An igniter-burner device according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal mounting for said container body is remote from a center of gravity thereof whereby said pivotal movement is accomplished by gravity action upon release of said maintaining means.

3. An igniter-burner device according to claim 1 Where4 in said maintaining means includes a bimetallic temperature responsive element.

4. An igniter-bumer device according to claim 1 Where`V in said housing is pivotally mounted to said burner.

5. An igniter-burner device according to claim 4 Wherein said means are provided automatically to cause pivotal movement of said housing away from said burner 10 in response to the complete discharge of said liquid from said container body.

6. An igniter-burner device according to claim 1 wherein said igniting means includes a spring loaded flint mechanism operably associated with a scratching surface, re-

lease of said mechanism by said thermostat means producing sufficient spark to ignite said liquid on said Wick, said wick being positioned in a path of said spark.

7. An igniter-burner device according to claim 6 wherein said thermostat means includes a release mechanism trigger to which a snap action is applied by said thermostat means upon said achievement of said temperature.

References Cited by the Examiner FREDERICK L MATTESON, IR., Primary Examiner.

15 FREDERICK KETTERER, JAMES W. WESTHAVER,

Examiners. 

1. AN IGNITER-BURNER DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A HOUSING CONNECTED TO SAID BURNER AND HAVING A LIQUID DISCHARGE OPENING POSITIONED OVER A FILLER OPENING OF SAID BURNER AND FORMED IN A FUEL CONTAINING COMPARTMENT THEREOF; A CONTAINER BODY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, SAID CONTAINER BODY BEING ADAPTED TO RETAIN A QUANTITY OF AN INFLAMMABLE LIQUID AND HAVING A POURING OPENING; WICK MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID LIQUID IN SAID CONTAINER BODY THROUGH SAID POURING OPENING; THERMOSTAT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING; PYROPHORIC MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID THERMOSTAT MEANS FOR IGNITING SAID LIQUID CONTAINED IN SAID WICK UPON ACHIEVEMENT OF A PREDETERMINED AMBIENT ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE; AND MEANS FOR NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID CONTAINER BODY IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION IN SAID HOUSING AND FOR RELEASING SAID CONTAINER BODY TO PERMIT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREOF TO DISCHARGE SAID LIQUID WITHIN SAID HOUSING IN RESPONSE TO HEAT PRODUCED BY BURNING OF SAID LIQUID ON SAID WICK, WHEREBY TO DISPOSE BURNING LIQUID IN SAID BURNER AND UPON FUEL CONTAINED THEREIN. 